horse people, excavators, engineers for riding ring repairs

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I had a riding ring put in about 5 years ago. My property is all downhill. My sand washed away during the first storm (hurricane) after a long drought. The dirt and grass seed from the top of the hill swept through, some settling in the ring. I tried pulling the grass and weeds but they grew back. I tried cutting the grass but killed the lawnmower when the sand kicked up. I thought about putting some dirt on top but realized that divits would pull up easier because the sand is still underneath. I thought about putting pigs in to clear it but it is pretty much rock free at the moment. My septic is right infront of the ring so no trenches can be put there. I really should fill and raise the low side so no more runoff will happen but I would rather put the money into the sand.

The latest idea I have is to line the low ends with bales of hay. The water can seap through but the sand will settle. I know the hay will rot sooner or later but the base will be there. Once rotted, the animals will not try to eat the bales. What do you think?

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), October 31, 2000

Answers

Hi Dee, The hay/straw bale idea is good, but go one step further, and put water deflecting bales at the high point area at the top of the ring also, where ever the water run-off is coming in, to divert the water around the ring. Sand washes away easily in hard rain even on flat ground, how about putting down some granulated slag (some folks call it "bug dust") or wood chips. Wood chips can often be gotten for free from the power line right-of-way clean up crews, they are happy to have a place to dump them, try contacting your local electric company to inquire about them. The wood chips would also have the added advantage of acting like mulch, and smothering the grass and weeds, if applied at least 3-4 inches deep. Annie in SE OH.

-- Annie Miller (annie@1st.net), October 31, 2000.

Another good source of wood chips is any local tree company. And they could be a free source of fire wood if you burn wood.

-- Anthony J. DiDonato (didonato@vvm.com), November 02, 2000.

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